Israel and Morocco agree to ‘full diplomatic relations’, says Trump
Dec 10, 2020 13:11:25 #
More world stuff for those interested in the lines being drawn.
Oliver Holmes in Jerusalem Thu 10 Dec 2020 12.34 EST
Israel and Morocco have made a deal to normalise relations, Donald Trump has announced, a move that would mark the fourth agreement between an Arab government and the Jewish state this year.
“Another HISTORIC breakthrough today!” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!”
In keeping with Trump’s t***sactional foreign policy, the deal included an agreement by Washington to recognise Morocco’s claim over the disputed Western Sahara region.
“Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal is the ONLY basis for a just and lasting solution for enduring peace and prosperity!” he said. “Morocco recognized the United States in 1777. It is thus fitting we recognize their sovereignty over the Western Sahara.”
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described the deal as “another great light of peace”. Morocco’s royal court said the country’s king had told Trump he intends to facilitate direct flights for Israeli tourists.
The north African country, which has a deep Jewish history and a small current community of Jews, has for years kept informal ties with Israel. An estimated 50,000 Israelis travel to Morocco each year on trips to learn about the Jewish community and retrace their family histories.
Meanwhile, sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a former Spanish north African territory, has been a long-running dispute. Morocco’s claims to the territory are largely unrecognised internationally.
The White House released a statement formally proclaiming the recognition of Morocco’s territorial claim, adding an “independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict and that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution”.
Trump’s administration has focused on forging deals between Israel and Arab states, scoring breakthroughs this summer with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. A third unfinished agreement with Sudan was announced although it was not clear if the country’s t***sitional government has the authority to strike such a deal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/israel-and-morocco-agree-to-full-diplomatic-relations-says-trump
Oliver Holmes in Jerusalem Thu 10 Dec 2020 12.34 EST
Israel and Morocco have made a deal to normalise relations, Donald Trump has announced, a move that would mark the fourth agreement between an Arab government and the Jewish state this year.
“Another HISTORIC breakthrough today!” Trump wrote on Twitter. “Our two GREAT friends Israel and the Kingdom of Morocco have agreed to full diplomatic relations – a massive breakthrough for peace in the Middle East!”
In keeping with Trump’s t***sactional foreign policy, the deal included an agreement by Washington to recognise Morocco’s claim over the disputed Western Sahara region.
“Morocco’s serious, credible, and realistic autonomy proposal is the ONLY basis for a just and lasting solution for enduring peace and prosperity!” he said. “Morocco recognized the United States in 1777. It is thus fitting we recognize their sovereignty over the Western Sahara.”
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, described the deal as “another great light of peace”. Morocco’s royal court said the country’s king had told Trump he intends to facilitate direct flights for Israeli tourists.
The north African country, which has a deep Jewish history and a small current community of Jews, has for years kept informal ties with Israel. An estimated 50,000 Israelis travel to Morocco each year on trips to learn about the Jewish community and retrace their family histories.
Meanwhile, sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a former Spanish north African territory, has been a long-running dispute. Morocco’s claims to the territory are largely unrecognised internationally.
The White House released a statement formally proclaiming the recognition of Morocco’s territorial claim, adding an “independent Sahrawi state is not a realistic option for resolving the conflict and that genuine autonomy under Moroccan sovereignty is the only feasible solution”.
Trump’s administration has focused on forging deals between Israel and Arab states, scoring breakthroughs this summer with Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. A third unfinished agreement with Sudan was announced although it was not clear if the country’s t***sitional government has the authority to strike such a deal.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/dec/10/israel-and-morocco-agree-to-full-diplomatic-relations-says-trump
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